Sesame Cookies

Got this from here.

Ingredients:
Plain white flour - ½ cup + 2 tbsp.
Light brown sugar - 1 cup (packed)
Unsalted butter - 4 tbsp.
Egg -1 (large)
Sesame seeds - 1 cup (dry roasted)
Baking powder - ½ tsp.
Vanilla extract - ½ tsp.
Salt - ½ tsp.
Lemon juice - 1 tsp.

Method:
Combine the sifted flour, baking powder and salt. Keep aside.
Cream the butter and brown sugar until fluffy and light with an electric hand mixer .
Blend in the egg, vanilla extract and lemon juice.
Add the flour mixture slowly and mix just until incorporated on low speed.
Then pour in the sesame seeds. Combine with the dough.
Cover the dough and let it rest in the refrigerator for an hour.
Pre-heat the oven on a temperature of 180°C (350°F).
Place the parchment paper on the cookie tray.
Drop the dough teaspoon by teaspoon on the parchment sheet leaving a gap of 7 cm (2.8 inches).
Then bake it for 7-9 minutes or until golden brown.
Take the sheet and then place it on the wire rack with the cookies.
After 5-10 minutes of cooling, remove the cookies carefully and delicately and place them on a wire rack.

Tips & Warnings:
If you don’t leave spaces between the cookies, they’re sure to join like a double circle cookie. Or consider this a crazy fashion of cookies.
These cookies are very fragile (worse than handling raw eggs).


Sent off to Priya's CWS event.

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Hummus Sandwich

I prepared this dish from scratch.

Tahini/Tahina
Ingredients:
Sesame seeds - 2 tbsp.
Sesame oil - ½ tsp.
Salt - ¼ tsp.
Lukewarm water - ¼ cup

Method:
Place sesame seeds in a blender and grind till smooth.
Add sesame oil and salt. Blend till they get combined.
Add water in small quantity at regular intervals and blend till smooth.
Refrigerate the tahina.
R.C

Hummus (Red pepper, Zucchini and coriander hummus)
Ingredients:
Dried chickpeas - 1 cup
Tahina - 3 tbsp.
Lemon juice - 2 tbsp.
Garlic - 2 cloves
Salt and ground pepper (to taste)
Cumin powder - ½ tsp.
EVOO - For grinding + sautéing + garnishing
Red pepper - ½ cup (chopped)
Zucchini - ½ cup (grated)
Coriander leaves - 4 tbsp. + for garnishing
Chili powder to sprinkle

Method:
Soak the chickpeas overnight and cook till soft.
Drain the chickpeas and reserve the liquid.
Keep ¼ cup of chickpeas separately for garnishing.
Add remaining chickpeas in a blender.
Meanwhile heat olive oil and sauté the red pepper for 5 minutes.
Now add the grated zucchini for 2 to 4 minutes. Add the coriander leaves and sauté for a minute.
Cool them.
Along with the chickpeas now add the tahina, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin and required reserved liquid.
Grind them smooth.
Transfer the hummus in a bowl and garnish with olive oil, chickpeas, chili powder and coriander leaves.
Serve with raw vegetables and pita wedges.


Hummus sandwich:

Spread the hummus on the bread. Sprinkle the olive , place the lettuce leaves, tomatoes or you choice of veggies and enjoy the sandwich!

Sent off to Priya's "CWS" event.

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Bread Triangles

Ingredients:

Bread slices - 12

For the filling:
Potatoes - 4
Onion - 1 (chopped)
Ginger - 1 tsp. (grated)
Garlic - 1 tsp. (grated)
Green chili paste - ¾ tsp.
Carrot - 1 (grated)
Coconut - 3 tbsp. (grated)
Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp.
Lemon juice - 1 tsp.
Sesame seeds - as required
Oil
Salt
Butter

Method:
Dry roast the sesame seeds and keep aside.
Boil, peel and mash the potatoes.
Cut each bread slices into 4 triangles.
Heat oil and add the onions.
When the onions change color, add the ginger, garlic and chili paste.
Sauté till the raw smell fades.
Add the coconut and carrot. Sauté for 2 minutes.
Add the mashed potatoes and mix well.
Add salt, coriander leaves and mix.
After 2 minutes, remove heat and allow it to cool completely.
Now add the lemon juice and mix.
Take a bread piece and spread the potato mixture.
Sprinkle the roasted sesame seeds on top and press.
Continue spreading on 7 pieces of bread..
Heat a non-stick tawa and add the butter.
Place the bread pieces and toast on both sides by turning gently till they turn light golden color.
Continue with other bread pieces.

R.C.

Sent off to Priya's "CWS" event.

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Aloo Bhindi

Ingredients:
Potatoes - 1 ¾ cup (diced)
Okra - 1 ¾ cup (cut into pieces)
Capsicum - 1 (small-square pieces)
Paneer cubes - 200 gm
Chili powder - ¾ tsp.
Coriander powder - 2 tsp.
Turmeric powder - 2 pinches
Cumin powder - ¼ tsp.
Amchur powder - ½ tsp.
Garam masala - 2 pinches
Cumin seeds - ¼ tsp.
White sesame seeds - 1 tbsp.
Oats - 2 tbsp.
Salt
Oil
Coriander leaves - few (chopped)

Method:
Dry roast the oats and sesame seeds separately.
Cool and powder them.
Heat the oil in a kadai and add the cumin seeds.
Add the onions and ginger. Sauté till onions are translucent.
Reduce heat and add chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder & salt .
Mix well for a minute.
Add required water to boil the potatoes. Don’t close them with a lid.
When potatoes are half done add the cumin powder and amchur powder.
Meanwhile in another kadai heat oil and add the okra.
Shallow fry till they are tender by adding salt.
When the potatoes are cooked, add the paneer cubes and capsicum.
After a minute add the tender okra, powdered mix, coriander leaves & garam masala.
Mix gently.
Enjoy with roti.

Sent off to Priya's "CWS" event.

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Zucchini Soup

Ingredients:

Zucchini - 2 (medium & chopped)
Scallion - 1 (big-chopped)
Basil leaves - 8 (small)
Oregano - 1 tsp. (dry)
Milk - ¼ cup (1% fat)
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Flax seeds powder
Lemon juice - 2 tsp.

Method:
Heat the olive oil and add the scallions.
Add the zucchini and sauté for 2 minutes.
Add water by covering the zucchini.
When it is tender, add torn basil leaves and oregano.
Let it cook for 2 minutes.
Remove from heat and let it cool.
Blend them.
Add milk and give a pulse.
Add salt.
Sprinkle pepper powder, flax seed powder and lemon juice.
Have it warm with any bread.

Sent off to Usha's "Healthy Inspirations Event-Soups".

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Green Chickpeas Salad

Ingredients:
Green chickpeas - 1 cup
Red bell pepper - ½
Yellow bell pepper - ½
Onion - 1 (small)
Cucumber - 1 (small)
Carrot - ½
Beet root - ¼ cup

Dressing:
Lemon juice - 1 tsp.
Extra virgin olive oil - 1 tsp.
Pepper and salt

Method:
Toss all ingredients in a bowl.
Enjoy!

Sent off to Divya's "Show Me Your Salad" and PJ's "No cook event".

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